Cloud computing is a solution desperately in search of a problem. Its marketing appeals to the near-sighted, the cheapskates, the people who never think about disaster planning and have to be rescued, at great risk to others, when it happens.

Reliable systems are built by minimizing variables and risks.

Functionality should be implemented as close to the user as technology allows. Anything above first level (i.e. desktop, laptop, phone, etc.) should be asynchronous with alternatives if all the redundant links are down.

Cloud computing's usefulness is not in reducing costs.

Cloud computing's usefulness is in improved reliability through redundancy.